(Newser)
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"I've had one hell of a year," might be the understatement of the year coming from Harvey Weinstein. A Monday email from Weinstein's personal email account, in which he criticizes police investigators while describing "the worst nightmare of my life," has leaked to media outlets including TMZ, though his lawyer Ben Brafman tells the New York Times it was sent only to a "handful" of intimate friends. Brafman's publicist tells CNN it was six to eight friends. "I'd like to speak to you on the phone if you have some time. There is more to this story ... I appreciate your confidentiality," Weinstein wrote, linking to articles he said showed "the police have played a very difficult role in my investigation."

The email drew no sympathy from actress Katherine Kendall, one of the first of more than 80 women to accuse the Hollywood mogul of sexual harassment or assault over the past 14 months. "I can't imagine that people would believe him," but some "see him as a master manipulator" and suspect he's working on a comeback. Brafman paints a different picture: "The emails from Harvey have to be viewed from the perspective of someone who is very distressed. It's him asking for help. This was not an aggressive move." Weinstein currently faces rape and sex abuse charges related to two women; a third case was dismissed in October. (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.)